A Look Ahead at Chicago Lit: April

by Kayleigh McNamara

Dylan Thomas said, “Poetry is what in a poem makes you laugh, cry, prickle, be silent, makes your toenails twinkle, makes you want to do this or that or nothing, makes you know that you are alone in the unknown world, that your bliss and suffering is forever shared and forever all your own.”

Poetry is, at its core, an expression of the human experience. It memorializes a particular moment and allows the world to feel it. April 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of National Poetry Month. Organized by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month reminds us of the critical role this art form plays in our lives. Read a message from Michelle T. Boone, president and CEO of the Poetry Foundation, and be sure to visit their headquarters right here in Chicago. The Poetry Foundation will be celebrating with events throughout the month. The Chicago Poetry Center will also be hosting workshops with their poet in residence, Musu Bangura, in partnership with the Chicago Public Library. 

Friend of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, Gary Houston will be performing in The Official Biography by Kurt McGinnis Brown. Presented by Her Story Theatre, the play runs April 1 through April 19 at The Den Theater, 1331 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622. 

April 3, Poets for Chicago! In partnership with Lit for Chicago, the Chicago Poetry Center presents A Night of Art & Community Benefiting Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Go to Haymarket House (800 W. Buena Avenue, Chicago, IL 60302) at 7 p.m. to hear featured readers José Olivarez, Mayda del Valle, C. Russell Price, Juan Martinez, and The Borderless Poets.

Nancy Kurshan will be in Chicago for two dates this month to discuss her memoir, Levitating the Pentagon & Other Uplifting Stories. April 4, 2:00 p.m. at the Mercado in Humboldt Park, 2559 W Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622. April 9, 7:00 p.m. at Pilsen Community Books, 1531 W 18th Street, Chicago, IL 60608. 

April 7, Bill Kurtis will be discussing his book Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News in conversation with Peter Sagal. The event takes place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at The Winnetka Chapel, presented by The Book Stall. Purchase tickets here. 

April 8, The Seminary Co-op (5751 S. Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637) hosts Adolph Reed Jr. and former CLHOF board member, Kenneth W. Warren to discuss their book, Black Studies, Cultural Politics, and the Evasion of Inequality: The Farce this Time. They will be in conversation with Cedric Johnson. The event takes place 4-5 p.m. followed by a Q&A and book signing. RSVP here. 

Later that same day, from 7-9 p.m., poet Julian Randall will be hosting Verses on Verses, a generative writing workshop at Call & Response Books, located 390 E. Hyde Park Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60615. Reserve your tickets here. 

April 9, Jennifer Egan and Michael Zapata will be at the Newberry Library (60 W. Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60610) from 6-7 p.m. for Writers on Writing. Presented in partnership with StoryStudio Chicago and supported by the Illinois Arts Council, the event will have a hybrid option with the option to attend in person at Ruggles Hall or join on Zoom. The event is free but registration is required. 

Also on April 9, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Pile Bookstore will be hosting their monthly Book Swap at Kinslahger Brewing Company, 6806 Roosevelt RoadOak Park, IL, 60304. 

April 14, Della Leavitt will discuss her novel, Vivian’s Decision at The Book Cellar, located 4736 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625. She will be joined in conversation by Abbi Geni. The event takes place at 6:30 p.m. 

April 16, David Murray celebrates the release of his memoir, Soccer Dad at 6:30 p.m. at City Lit Bookstore 2523 N. Kedzie Blvd., Chicago, IL 60647. Member of the CLHOF advisory council, John Lillig will join him in conversation. Learn more and RSVP here. 

April 17, Samyak Shertok will be at Skunkcabbage Books to celebrate the release of his poetry collection, No Rhododendron. Local Poets Rob Macaisa Colgate and I.S. Jones will give readings as well. The event takes place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Learn more and RSVP here. 

April 17 and 18, Lyric Opera House presents two performances of Chicago’s first-ever poet laureate, avery r. young’s, safronia. The show is described as a blend of folklore, poetry, history, and music. Buy tickets here. 

Saturday, April 18, be sure to mark your calendars! The Randall Albers Young Writers Awards Ceremony will be taking place at 1:30 p.m. in the Reception Hall of Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, Chicago, IL 60605. Help us celebrate the talented young writers who submitted to this year’s contest. The event is free and open to the public but advanced registration is required. 

April 19, Renée Rosen will be at The Woman’s Club of Evanston to discuss her novel, What the Lady Wants which takes place in Chicago during the Gilded Age. The event takes place at 1702 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 from 1-3 p.m. Register here. 

April 21, The Guild Literary Complex presents the New/Next Writers Showcase. The event takes place from 7-9 p.m. at Haymarket House, 800 W. Buena Avenue, Chicago, IL 60302 and features local up and coming writers, Kameryn Carter, Noa Fields, Meghan Malachi, Natasha Mijares, Meredith Nnoka, Noel Quiñones, and Lisa Low. 

April 22, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong will be at the American Writers Museum to discuss her new book, Parks and Rec: The Underdog TV Show That Lit’rally Inspired a Vision for a Better America. If you’re a fan of the show Parks and Recreation, you don’t want to miss this. Nick Offerman or “Ron Swanson” will be giving an introduction. The event takes place from 6-7 p.m. at 180 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601. Buy tickets here. 

April 23, Celebrate The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems by Patricia Smith, winner of the 2025 National Book Award for Poetry. Ashley M. Jones, Donika Kelly, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil will also give readings. The event will take place at 61 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60654 and begins at 6 p.m. Register here. 

April 24, Exile in Bookville presents Authors on Tap to celebrate the release of Nora Lange’s collection of short stories, Day Care. She will be in conversation with Lindsay Hunter. The event takes place at 410 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605 and will begin at 7 p.m. Reserve your ticket here.

April 25, it’s Independent Bookstore Day! Go out and visit your local bookstore to show your support. Participate in the Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl and choose from any of the 81 participating stores.

April 30, head to Bookends & Beginnings to hear Yasmina Din Madden read from her highly anticipated collection, You Know Nothing. She will be in conversation with Vu Tran, member of our CLHOF advisory council. 

Kayleigh McNamara is a graduate student of Publishing at DePaul University. She has a B.A. in English & Creative Writing from the University of Iowa where she was nominated for the Iowa Review David Hamilton Prize. Kayleigh currently serves on the Associate Board at the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame.